Bank of Canada Head Office Renewal

Winner of the 2018 Canadian Consulting Engineering Award of Excellence, the Bank of Canada Head Office Renewal is a showcase project exemplifying the highest calibre of innovation, quality and sustainability.

A national landmark, the complex is comprised of two glass towers, and a connecting atrium surrounding a granite-clad centrepiece building. The 80,000 m2 complex includes an exterior plaza and a national currency museum.

The goal was to address performance and infrastructure deficits and life-safety compliance, transform the workplace, and maintain the intrinsic architectural value.

New structural concrete shear walls, floor slab infills and a new staircase configuration allowed the project to restore open office floorplates. On each tower floor perimeter, 450mm-deep Dynamic Buffer Zones (DBZ) were created to improve energy efficiency and
environmental controls.

To address heating issues, BPA tested the idea of active double-skin walls—an uncommon Canadian design feature not often utilised in retrofit applications. The energy modelling confirmed the feasibility of a building envelope without additional perimeter heating.

At the time, heat loss along the perimeters was estimated at 5,255 MBH (1540 kW) in peak conditions. Using DBZs rather than a curtain wall saw almost $100,000 in annual energy savings!

Prior to renovations, radiant cooling panels in recesses of the coffered structure reduced airflow by 50%. BPA’s new concept reduced the building core service area requirements and eliminated perimeter mechanical rooms and exterior louvres. Reducing the distribution ductwork allowed us to implement standardized air duct opening, which provided adequate air distribution and temperature control.

Steam and chilled water supply from the district heating and cooling plant provided additional opportunities for energy and cost efficiencies. BPA designed a new system that produces low temperature hot water from steam supplied by the heating plant or heat recovery chillers for 37,811 GJ in annual energy savings!